Holy Cow It Hurts So Good!

Guest Blog by: Sarah Thomas

Foam rollers are an affordable, versatile piece of fitness equipment that can helps with everything from working out the knots and tight muscles to sculpting an incredible set of abs faster.

The first foam roller was patented in the US in the 1920s. Healthcare professionals have known for quite sometime the benefits of the foam roller. Common areas of tightness are outer thigh (iliotibial band, ITB), quadriceps or upper back.

Position yourself on top of the roller and use the weight of your body to slowly roll back and forth over it (like a rolling pin – rolling out dough). Try not to use your arms for support, but allow your bodyweight to relax over the roller. Remember to breathe and let your muscle melt.

Let’s put some fire in those core muscles and make it a total-body exercise with planks or push-ups.

Use one or both hands on top of a foam roller during a full plank or pushup. Another option is to slide your roller under your toes during either exercise. Placing under your toes will make your body work hard and stabilize your inner core.

If a full roller is too much and pushing you past your edge; use a half foam roller with flat bottom until your confidence builds to using a full roller.

Rolling flushes out toxins to helps with recovery. Incorporate the roller into some basic strength training moves, yoga or rehabilitation for injury.